NEWS & EVENTS

Dordt College News

Dordt Opens GPAC Football Season

ON THE DOCKET… Dordt College opens the 2013 GPAC football season with a home game against Midland on Saturday, September 14 at 1:00. You can hear the game on KDCR 88.5 FM and on there will be a live video webstream at www.dordt.edu/athletics. Results at the end of the game can be found online at www.dordt.edu/athletics/football ; https://www.facebook.com/dordtdefenders and you can follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/dcathletics.

THE FOE… Midland is 1-0 this season and is also playing in its first GPAC contest of the season. The Warriors are coached by Josh Gehring who is in his second season at the helm of the program at the Fremont, Nebraska based school.

Midland’s lone test this season was a 31-27 decision they won over Mayville State on August 31. The Warriors were outgained 404-298 but forced three turnovers while committing just two of its own. Midland took advantage of a short field in the first quarter to score a touchdown with a 19 yard scoring drive and got a touchdown early in the second quarter on a fumble recovery and return from ten yards out.

Corey Meshak gained 74 yards on 13 carries and Michael Karls had 41 yards rushing on 15 attempts. Karls also completed 12-21 passes for 170 yards and three touchdown tosses. Alex Moreland caught three passes for 58 yards and Kirk Zinermon had three catches for 39 yards and a touchdown. Midland’s tight end, Nathan Schluter, had two catches for a pair of touchdowns, one for 15 yards and the other of ten yards.

Dalton and Andre Jenkins both had interceptions and Mark Ingraham had the fumble recovery and return for a touchdown. Mason Gegzna and Andrew Watchhorn led the team in tackles against Mayville State with six tackles each.

Ethan Renner handles the punting and had a 42.3 average on three attempts in the first game. Renner also plays linebacker and had four tackles.

Midland was 4-6 last season with wins in the league over Nebraska Wesleyan, Dordt and Briar Cliff. The Warriors also had single digit losses to three other teams and went 2-2 over their final four games.

THE DEFENDERS… Dordt is 1-0 after a win over Dakota State last weekend. The Defenders were able to preserve the win as they blocked a 39 yard field goal attempt as time expired, securing the road win. The Defenders outgained Dakota State 310-276 and had 188 yards on the ground and 122 in the air.

Courtney Samuel led the Dordt ground attack with 60 yards on 12 carries and Lenard Manuel had nine carries for 43 yards. Erin Francis, Trai Pickney and Daniel Fennig had 29, 29 and 22 yards respectively. Bryce Rusler was 8-12 in the air and had two touchdown passes. Sam Verhulst caught three passes for 58 yards and a touchdown while Lenard Manuel, Fennig, Pickney, Darryl Van Grouw and Francis all had one catch. Van Grouw’s catch was a touchdown grab of 25 yards.

Seth Vande Voort and Cole McClain each had 13 tackles and Micah Applegate 11. Sean Quinlan got credit for 1.5 tackles for loss and Camren Pitre had an interception. McClain had a tackle for a loss and recovered a fumble.
Heath Bonestroo punted five times and averaged 37.4 yards per punt with a long of 57 yards.

HISTORY… Dordt and Midland played on September 15 in Fremont, Nebraska and Midland won a 26-7 decision, scoring three second quarter touchdowns to take control of the game. The hosts scored on drives of 40, 64 and 80 yards and struck for a 54 yard pass on the first play of the fourth quarter to lead 26-0. Dordt got on the board with a Kyle Henricks touchdown plunge from one yard out midway through the fourth period to cap an 11 play, 80 yard drive.

Midland had a 417-291 yards gained advantage and outrushed the Defenders 248-193. Manuel had 56 yards on 11 carries and Pickney had 33 yards on four totes. Bryce Rusler completed a pair of passes while David Griess had three catches for 21 yards and Pickney had two catches for 42 yards. Dominic Blood gained 114 yards on the ground for the Warriors and Kene Martin had 91 yards on 17 rushes. Lee Horky was 17-26 in the air for 169 yards Josh Bubke caught six balls for 85 yards.

Sam Ashmore led the Dordt defense with 12 tackles and Ray Cleveland was in on ten and Seth Vande Voort nine. Cleveland had an interception in the loss. Clete Vrbka made 11 tackles for the Warriors.

September 7
Tabor College 10, Nebraska Wesleyan University 9
Wisconsin-Stout 35, Dakota Wesleyan University 20
Hastings College 38, Kansas Wesleyan University 20
Dordt College 14, Dakota State University 13
Northwestern College 55, Bacone College 37
Morningside College 56, Valley City State University 28
Friends University 24, Doane College 21 (OT)